Criminals selling fake ‘cures’ on dark web could be making spread of virus worse
Protective gear, ‘vaccines’ and test kits for COVID-19 are being sold illegally across darknet sites by criminals keen to cash in on the global crisis. And they could be helping spread the virus.
VIC News
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Criminals are using the dark web to try and sell personal protective equipment (PPE) and drugs marketed as cures for COVID-19 online in a bid to profit from the pandemic.
Twenty darknet sites were scoured by the Australian National University (ANU) throughout April as part of a commission by the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC), to identify the extent of virus-related products being sold online.
Almost 650 listings were found across 12 underground markets, with products including PPE, vaccines, ventilators, antiviral medicines and test kits being sold illegally.
Of the 12 markets found selling coronavirus-related stock, three accounted for 85 per cent of all listings for sale.
The majority were selling PPE items, such as surgical masks, which were often sold in bulk.
A third of listings were for antiviral or “repurposed” medicines.
Professor Rod Broadhurst, from the ANU Cybercrime Observatory, said the pandemic was providing a “criminal opportunity” for people to cash in.
“We think we will see more of that and we need some basic monitoring to start shutting it down,” Prof Broadhurst said.
“The biosecurity hazardous products are the most dangerous because some are marketed as if they have been leaked from real trials.
“But, they could be fake and we don’t know what they are made from.”
Prof Broadhurst said unapproved or fake vaccines posed immediate heath risks for the wider community.
“Fake vaccines could assist in the spread of the virus because users may behave as if they are
immune but nevertheless become exposed to the coronavirus,” he said.
“The premature release of vaccines undergoing animal or human trial would also misguide users as to immunity but may also impact on the success of these crucial clinical trials.”
The most expensive vaccine listed, to be shipped from the US, was priced at $24,598, while those sourced from China also fetched upwards of $23,000.
The average cost of a vaccine on the dark web was about $575.
Dr Rick Brown, Deputy Director of the Australian Institute of Criminology, said the results will help direct the government’s response to crooks trying to profit from the sale of medical supplies during a pandemic.
“The sale of fake vaccines and other compromised medical items poses a real risk to the health and safety of the public and needs to be dealt with swiftly,” Dr Brown said.
“These results will assist our law enforcement partners in tackling this concerning issue.”